PEDIGREE pup Kayna is top of the doggy league after scooping an historic title.

The Belgian shepherd dog was voted Reserve Best in Show at the Three Counties Championship, Great Malvern, becoming the youngest bitch ever to do so. The 14-month-old all-black Groendale, which is kept at Mount Pleasant Farm, Darwen, with six other Tervueren Belgian shepherds, is the pride and joy of owner Christine Isherwood, 56.

And quality breeding clearly runs in the family - Christine's sister Sharon last year won best of breed at Crufts for the third year running with her St Bernard.

"I have been competing dogs for more than 40 years," said Christine, who has cared for Kayna since she was eight weeks old. "It is the love of the animal as well as the competitive nature of the sport. I waited two years for her to be bred in Kent as I really wanted a bitch to show."

Kayna also won best of breed, junior bitch, and pastoral group one.